Tue, March 11, 2008 - 10:58 AM

In Mississippi, the media is focused on the attention they’ve received from the candidates and their high-profile supporters over the past few days.

But the national media and bloggers are focused on Barack Obama’s rejection of a joint ticket, as we mentioned yesterday.

-- Amy Dominello

Good morning and Happy Primary Day, Mississippi.

Throughout the day, WJTV and the Herd on the Trail blog will be offering you the latest in primary coverage.

It looks like it will be a busy day. I’ve already heard from one woman who skipped voting before work because the line was too long at her polling place. But she said she’ll go back after her shift ends, when she has more time to vote.

The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. So get out and vote and stay tuned.

-- Amy Dominello

Mon, March 10, 2008 - 11:57 PM

As the Democrats continue on their path on choosing a nominee, many people have said they wish both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama would run together.

Clinton has recently begun to suggest that. But as he traveled Mississippi today, Obama said he’s not interested. Obama said he’s in the lead (he has slight edge among pledged delegates) and he’s running for the top spot.

What do you think? Should the two candidates join forces? And if so, who should run at the top of the ticket?

-- Amy Dominello

I learned the hard way that only the traveling pool press gets food. Not poor scribes like me.

But after a little food, I’m back and ready to blog.

Did you see Barack Obama at Jackson State University? Have you seen Hillary at any of her events in the state?

Do you know who’ll you vote for? Or are you still on the fence?

Tell us about it. We want to see your pictures and hear what you think. You can comment below and e-mail your pictures to me at adominello@mediageneral.com and pictures@wjtv.com.

-- Amy Dominello

Obama is exiting the building, but don't worry political junkies.

I'm going to take a short break, but I’ll be back with the latest news on the campaign and more on how Obama was received in Jackson.

-- Amy Dominello

Obama is wrapping up, although I think this crowd could listen to him all night.

He’s touching on hope and said how over hundreds of years Americans have been motivated to make change through hope. Hope should not be belittled, he said.

“You know about hope here in Mississippi,” he said.

Obama urged the crowd not to accept the status quo in this country.

“This is our moment,” he said. “This is our time.”

Before exiting the stage, he made a get-out-the vote pitch and told people to bring their friends and relatives to the polls tomorrow.

“We will change this country and we will change the world,” he said to cheers.

-- Amy Dominello

You want change, Obama asked the crowd. Do you really want change?

Then Clinton is not the way to go, he said.

“I respect Sen. Clinton,” he said. “She’s a fine public servant.”

But there was no love for Clinton at Jackson State tonight. That statement drew boos.

He also addressed Clinton’s hints that Obama would make a good vice president. Obama told the cheering crowd he running for president, not vice president.

“The reason I decided to run is because the kind of change she’s offering is just a change in party,” he said. “It’s not a change in doing business.”

Example number one – the fact that Clinton threw “the kitchen sink” at him as she trailed in their race to the White House with tactics to try to trick the American people .

“That’s the same old thing,” he said. “… That’s what’s got us in the hole we’re in now.”

-- Amy Dominello

It’s 3 a.m. And Obama is apparently ready.

In what was likely a rebuttal to those Clinton ads that ran several weeks ago questioning whether he was ready to lead on national security issues, Obama said he can take that call.

“I will do whatever is required to make sure that nobody does America harm,” he said.

-- Amy Dominello

Obama is touching on key points critical to this presidential race: health care, education, economy and energy issues.

And he’s getting an enthusiastic response from this crowd, especially as he talks about tuition credits for students who volunteer.

Also appreciated by the crowd – comprised of a large number of students - were Obama’s comments to raise the minimum wage.

-- Amy Dominello

Obama said he can’t take full credit for the large turnout for the primaries in his campaign.

He took a shot at President George W. Bush, saying his policies have motivated Democrats in an unprecedented way.

And do not worry voters, he said. You can be happy that the current administration won’t have a place on the ballot in November, Obama said. The crowd was pretty happy to hear that.

“No Bush,” he said. “And the name of my cousin Dick Cheney won’t be on the ballot.”

In case you didn’t hear that one, Cheney and Obama share a distant relative. Imagine that family reunion.

-- Amy Dominello

Obama is launching into his stump speech.

He’s talked about why he’s running now, referencing what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called the “fierce urgency of now.”

He’s launched into a laundry list of the challenges the country is including an economy in a recession and the war in Iraq.

“The dream that so many worked for is slowly slipping away,” he said.

-- Amy Dominello

Here we go folks, Obama is on stage.

And it IS deafening in here.

-- Amy Dominello

In case you were wondering, Mississippi is considered friendly territory for Obama.

The state is favored to go to Obama tomorrow, largely because of the heavy black population in the state. Thirty-seven percent of the population is black.

That would fit the profile of the Southern states that have gone for Obama so far during this contest.

Hillary Clinton took some heat last week from Obama supporters for what they said were her disparaging comments about the state when she compared Iowa and Mississippi’s record on electing women to office.

But Hillary Clinton, former President Bill Clinton and their daughter Chelsea have been campaigning in the state. Who knows how that campaigning will play out when voters hit the polls tomorrow?

-- Amy Dominello

When it comes to delegates, Mississippi doesn’t have a lot. The state’s 33 delegates are small compared to bigger states like New York and California.

But every delegate counts right now for the Democrats and Mississippi’s delegates are extremely important.

And if this crowd is any indication, they are excited to see that tight presidential primary play out in Mississippi.

They’re cheering right now for former Mississippi Gov. Ray Madus who is onstage getting the crowd pumped up.

Some of his final words: Go out and vote. And bring 10 people with you.

Madus said Mississippi will make history tomorrow by voting for Obama.

-- Amy Dominello

An hour to go and it’s getting loud in here.



The crowd is deafening in here at times. I can’t imagine what it will be like when Obama actually steps on stage.

-- Amy Dominello